Scotland considering joint Euro bid

The Scottish Football Association today confirmed holding "tentative" talks with Wales and Northern Ireland over co-hosting the 2016 European Championships.

Scotland's dream of staging the tournament in eight years' time appeared to have ended in September when Uefa announced they were increasing the number of finalists from 16 to 24.

The country lacks the infrastructure to host an expanded tournament but the SFA are looking to link up with one of their near neighbours in the hope a joint bid will be successful.

An SFA spokesman told PA Sport tentative talks had been held with both Wales and Northern Ireland with a view to linking up with one of them.

Meanwhile, Uefa general secretary David Taylor insists Scotland would be a "great place" to hold the tournament.

Former SFA chief executive Taylor, who was involved in the unsuccessful bid to bring Euro 2008 to Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, added in the Herald: "It would be terrific. But I must be careful here.

"My enthusiasm for and advice to any country could be perceived in the wrong way. Many countries in UEFA are capable of hosting the tournament."

Uefa decided in September to expand the European Championship finals from 2016.

Current SFA chief Gordon Smith had lobbied for the change, despite admitting it would rule his country out of bidding individually for future tournaments.

However, the expansion gives Scotland a much better chance of qualifying.

Talks between the SFA and the Football Association of Wales over a joint bid have been mooted for more than a year, with the FAW revealing in April 2007 they hoped to enter into discussions.

But today is the first time the SFA have confirmed such talks have taken place.

An FAW spokesman told PA Sport "very tentative" discussions have been ongoing for some time.

He added: "We are interested in the idea and it's a question of where it goes from there."